It seems that Apple Pay is pretty busy these days in expanding its reach. Each month, Apple Inc.'s mobile payment and digital wallet service have been relentlessly adding by Apple Inc.participating banks and card issuers into its platform, showing its resolve in keeping up with its equally aggressive rivals such as PayPal.
This time, Apple Pay announced another batch of banks that are now accepted in its platform. There are a total of 39 banks added in the recent batch; 38 of these are based in the U.S. while one is a Chinese bank, according to a report by 9TO5Mac.
38 United States-based Banks Joining Apple Pay
Apple Play is further solidifying its presence in its home market with the addition of more U.S.-based participating banks this month. There are 38 new banks that are now included in the payment platform, such as:
First Calgary Financial
Carrollton Bank
Community Bank of Pleasant Hill
Community Bank of Raymore
Essex Bank
Farmers & Merchants Bank (LA)
First Bank and Trust (OK)
First Community Bank (SC)
First National Bank in Howell
First National Bank of Sandoval
First State Bank New London
Flint Community Bank
Forward Bank
Generations Credit Union
Green Dot Bank
Home Federal Bank
Kentucky Bank
Los Alamos National Bank
MembersOwn Credit Union
Old Hickory Credit Union
Old West Federal Credit Union
Park View Federal Credit Union
POPPY BANK
Prospera Credit Union
Rhode Island Credit Union
Seacoast Commerce Bank
Security State Bank (WA joins TX)
St. Helens Community Credit Union
The Farmers Bank (IN)
The First National Bank of Peterstown
The Village Bank
Union Bank & Trust Co. (WI)
United Community Bank (MN)
Utah Heritage Credit Union
Wellington State Bank
Widget Financial
WyHy Federal Credit union
Wyoming Bank & Trust
Apple Pay Adds Changzhi Bank
Meanwhile, China remains an important region for Apple Pay. In fact, it recently added Changzhi Bank allowing the bank's clients to use their cards to enroll with the payment platform.
Changzhi Bank is a local bank based in Changzhi City, Shanxi Province. According to its website, the bank has 33 branches most of which are located in Changzhi City itself except two - a branch is in Wuyuan County and another is in Tunliu County.
PayPal Could Be Targeting Apple Pay Cash
Meanwhile, Apple Pay Cash, the platform's person to person payment system could be facing increased competition in the coming days ahead. According to a report by 9TO5Mac, PayPal has redesigned its iOS which is now focused on making P2P payments a lot easier.
While PayPal did not specifically mention Apple Pay Cash, its latest tweak is making it a direct competition to Apple's service. PayPal explained that the change is all about improving customer experience and making their lives easier.
According to the PayPal's statement:
"We are making the app simpler to use and making it even easier for our customers to send and request money. The improved PayPal mobile app highlights the features customers use most to help make life easier"
